The Parent Coaching Institute has launched a new initiative called Technology Success Stories, featuring audio interviews with parents sharing their experiences and strategies for managing children's technology use. According to Gloria DeGaetano, CEO and founder of the institute, the resource aims to highlight parental wisdom and creativity in addressing technology challenges within families. "Parents' voices are so important when it comes to technology issues," DeGaetano stated, emphasizing that every child and family has unique needs and routines.
The initiative showcases parents of children across all ages and developmental stages, with interviews conducted by DeGaetano and accompanied by brief summaries on the institute's website. One featured parent, Reem, shared her journey of realizing that excessive screen time for her 3-year-old contributed to behavioral issues and meltdowns. Through observation and following her parental instincts, she discovered effective alternatives and wants other parents to know that positive change is achievable. "It's so much easier to do than you would ever expect. And I swear it's magic," she remarked during her interview.
The resource incorporates research to support parents' decisions and success strategies. For instance, in Reem's case, a link is provided to sobering data indicating that more than four hours of daily screen time for babies and toddlers increases their risk for autistic symptoms. Upcoming interviews will include parents of teenagers and a conversation with PCI Certified Parent Coach® and instructor Tierney Boggs, who will discuss adjusting screen time rules as children grow. Boggs, a mother of three children aged 8, 5, and 3, is also an author of a children's book and a book for parents.
DeGaetano explained that the initiative focuses on practical, real-world ideas rather than theoretical mandates from experts. "Parents have so much wisdom and creativity in giving their children the best that they can," she said. "Our Technology Success Stories resource is an exciting endeavor because parents are sharing inspiring real-world ideas—not pie in the sky mandates from experts." She noted that when busy working parents find effective solutions for reducing screen time or addressing social media issues with teens, their experiences resonate with other families.
The Parent Coaching Institute is recognized as an innovative leader in family support and offers a year-long, online Parent Coach Certification® program in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. This graduate-level training program enrolls family support professionals through an application process, with applications currently being accepted for the 2026 Spring Term beginning in late February. The application deadline is February 1, and more information is available at www.ThePCI.org.
The launch of Technology Success Stories addresses growing concerns about children's technology use by providing evidence-based, parent-tested strategies. This initiative may influence parenting practices, educational approaches, and public health discussions surrounding screen time, offering tangible solutions that could improve family dynamics and child development outcomes globally.
